Sunday, 19 November 2017: Australia's batting line-up crumbled in pursuit of a modest target to lose the second women's Ashes Twenty20 clash to England by 40 runs in Canberra.

A batting collapse has consigned Australia to a loss in the second women's Ashes Twenty20, opening the door to a potential drawn series that would take the gloss off the hosts' retention of the urn.

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England won by 40 runs in Canberra on Sunday after Australia lost 10-67 on the way to being bowled out for 112 in pursuit of 153 to win at Manuka Oval.

After the home side retained the Ashes two days ago with a comprehensive T20 victory in Sydney, England have reduced the deficit in the multi-format series to 8-6 with one match T20 match remaining.

Australian captain Rachael Haynes conceded a drawn series would not be ideal.

"We wanted to come out and finish the series really well. We were off the boil today," she told reporters.

"I've said from the beginning there's lots on the line. I think despite the fact we've retained the Ashes series, we really want to win. We don't want to finish on eight points each."

The home side's started their chase brightly, reaching 0-45 in the sixth over before Beth Mooney's run out by a Jenny Gunn direct hit from mid-off sparked the collapse.

A brilliant stumping by England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor off fast bowler Katherine Brunt in the following over removed No.3 Elyse Villani, who was caught short attempting a pull shot.

Top-scorer Alyssa Healy (24) holed out at long-on off Gunn for Australia to sit 3-49 in the eighth over, with the situation deteriorating when Ellyse Perry played on to a Brunt (2-10) short ball the next over for the loss of 4-7.

Middle-order players Ashleigh Gardner, Haynes and Delissa Kimmince all failed as Gunn (4-13) cleaned up the tail.

England won the toss, with Australia starting poorly in the field when Gardner fumbled a Danielle Wyatt skied shot before carrying the ball over the boundary for four runs in the first over.

Opener Wyatt was dismissed for 19 when she hit Megan Schutt (2-16) straight to Haynes at cover, while spinner Jess Jonassen (1-18) trapped Tammy Beaumont lbw attempting to sweep.

No.3 Taylor took Kimmince for back-to-back boundaries in the 11th over, but the medium-pacer had her revenge when she threw down the stumps from point to run her out at the non-striker's end for Australia's third wicket.

Natalie Sciver showed good touch in compiling 40 from 31 before skying a Perry slower ball to Haynes, while Brunt hit two sixes in her innings of 32 off 24 balls.

Schutt took her 18th wicket of the Ashes - and 100th of her international career - by bowling Fran Wilson in restricting England to four runs in the final over.

The final match of the series will be played in Canberra on Tuesday.